Simca 1307 Overview: Generations, Specs and Which Version to Buy
Overview of the Simca 1307 five-door hatchback built from 1975 to 1979, covering its single generation, the 68–85 hp engine range and which manual FWD versions stand out.
The Simca 1307 is a five-door hatchback produced from 1975 to 1979, offered with engines spanning 68 to 85 hp, all paired with a manual gearbox and front-wheel drive. It suits classic-car enthusiasts looking for a practical 1970s European family hatchback with simple mechanicals and a compact engine lineup.
Simca 1307 generations
1 generation
The first and only generation of the Simca 1307 was built from 1975 to 1979 as a five-door hatchback. Power output ranges from 68 to 85 hp across 3 modifications, every one of them with a manual transmission and front-wheel drive. Notable versions include the mass-market Simca 1307 1.3 MT with a 1294 cc engine producing 82 hp, and the top Simca 1307 1.4 MT with a 1442 cc engine producing 85 hp. Both were available throughout the full 1975–1979 production run. The gap between the 1.3 MT and the 1.4 MT is 148 cc of displacement and 3 hp of output, while the spread across the whole lineup, from the 68 hp base engine to the 85 hp top unit, is 17 hp. With only one body style, one gearbox type and one drive layout offered over the four production years, the 3 modifications differ from each other purely in engine specification.
Which Simca 1307 to buy
- 1.3 MT (82 hp) (1 generation): the mass-market choice with a 1294 cc engine and 82 hp, which makes it the version you are most likely to find and the easiest to source parts for.
- 1.4 MT (1 generation): the most powerful version of the lineup with 85 hp from a 1442 cc engine, the pick if you want the strongest Simca 1307 available.
Since every Simca 1307 comes from a single 1975–1979 generation with only manual gearboxes and front-wheel drive, there is no risk of buying an early car that misses later updates. The small spread of 3 modifications keeps the choice simple: the decision comes down to engine size, with only 3 hp separating the two notable versions.
Which Simca 1307 to avoid
The base 68 hp version sits 17 hp below the top 85 hp engine within the same body, gearbox and drivetrain layout. With the 82 hp 1.3 MT being the mass-market version, the 68 hp variant offers the least power without differing in body style, transmission or drive type, so it is worth passing over unless it is the only car available.